The mission of the Martin County Department of Social Services is “working together, hand in hand, to serve those citizens of our county that are in need, to improve their quality of life”.

To that end the agency will:

Protect children and adults with services that ensure their safety and well-being;

Provide job-related services that lead to employment;

Make available social and economic support services that provide short-term or temporary support for families until opportunities arise for self-sufficiency;

Provide access to health-related services for at-risk children and adults; and

Maintain information concerning persons who receive services from the agency in a professional and confidential manner.

The Martin County Department of Social Services is a county-administered public agency that provides a wide variety of social work services and administers health access and economic support programs that are required through state and federal laws. The agency provides the citizens of Martin County with resources and services to maximize their wellbeing. A primary focus of the agency is to prevent the abuse, neglect and exploitation of children and adults. Additional information about the programs and services offered through the department of social services can be found below.

Public Assistance Programs

Work First Family Assistance Economic Support Services provide financial and medical assistance to families in which children are deprived of the care and/or support of one or both parents. This is a mandated service.

Work First Family Assistance Employment Services provides supportive services, (Child Care and Transportation) through Case Management (Job Readiness, Job Search, Job Placement) for Work First Family Assistance clients entering into the workforce. This is a mandated service.

Work First Family Assistance Emergency Assistance provides temporary financial assistance to families with minor children at risk of harm. This is a mandated county service.

Medicaid Transportation pays for transportation to Medicaid covered treatment and services. This is a mandated service.

COMMUNITY CARE of NORTH CAROLINA/Carolina ACCESS: Under these programs, the Medicaid recipient is assigned to a primary care provider (PCP) who serves as the medical home. The PCP manages care for continuity and ensures services are provided that are medically necessary. The primary focus is to enroll every recipient into CCNC/CA with a preference to enroll into a CCNC/CA network.

The Food and Nutrition Services Program is a nutritional program that supplements low-income families with food stamp allotments through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT). The employment and training aspect of the food stamp program requires certain able bodied adults to register with the Employment Security Commission. This is a mandated service.

Child Care is purchased from private day care centers by the agency to ensure the safety of children while their parents attend educational and job training classes or participates in paid employment. This is a mandated service.

Crisis Intervention Program offers limited financial assistance to eligible persons experiencing a heating or cooling related emergency. This is a mandated service.

NC Health Choice is a health insurance program, which began 10/1/98, for families not eligible for Medicaid. Eligible families with minor children can obtain needed medical care through this program. This is a mandated service.

Low Income Energy Assistance Program provides a one-time cash payment to help low income eligible families pay their heating bills. This is a mandated service.

Program Integrity is investigations of cases of suspected fraud/abuse of Social Services Programs and is mandated.

Other Services:

Issuance of Youth Work Permits

Under the direction of the North Carolina Department of Labor, Martin County Department of Social Services issues Youth Employment Certificates (work permits) to all Martin County youth between the ages of 14 and 18 who wish to be active members of the work force. This is a mandated county service.

Protective Payee Services

The agency manages the funds of persons referred by the Social Security Administration who need someone to assume responsibility for management of their funds.

Guardianship

The agency provides guardianship services for adults declared wards of the state.

Local Appeal Hearings

A Staff member of the agency is assigned responsibility for local appeals. The Department of Social Services is mandated in each program area to provide an appeals process if clients disagree with decisions regarding their case. This is a mandated county service.

Shelter Management

The Department of Social Services is mandated to provide staff at the Red Cross shelters during a declared State of Emergencies. The agency provides shelter management in coordination with other local government departments mandated to provide space and services. This is a mandated county service.

EOC Participation

The Department of Social Services is mandated to provide administrative staff to assist in the operation of the Emergency Operation Center during a declared State of Emergency. This is a mandated county service.

Disaster Food Stamps Distribution

The Department of Social Services is mandated to distribute disaster Food and Nutritional Benefits (Disaster Food Stamps) as mandated by the state in response to a disaster. The entire DSS agency is mobilized to serve the public which includes additional hours, nights, and weekends to serve the long lines of persons who are in need.

Report Child and Adult Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation

To make a report of child or adult abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation, please call 252-789-4460anytime between 8 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday when the Social Services office is open. If you chose to make a report in person our Social Services office is located at 222 East Main Street Williamston, N.C.

After Hour Number to Report Child and Adult Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation

To report incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child or adult after normal operating hours please call 252-789-4555. Your call will be answered by the Martin County Communications Department.